Cutting mechanism for cigarette machines



c. E. WEIsNER CUTTING MECHANISM FOR CIGARETTE MACHINES Filed April 26.1923 2 Sheets-Sheet l @les E.Wzisne INVENroR,

WITNESSEB C. E. WElSNER CUTTING MECHANISM FOR CIGARETTE MACHINES Filed-April 26 1923 Sheets-Sheet 2 INV'ENTOR ClvrZesEI/Vezsner ATTRNEYPatented Cet.. 7, 1924'.

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CHARLES EMMETT WISNER, OF DURMID, VRGINIA;

CUTTING MECHANISM FOR CIGARETTE MACHINES.

Application filed April 26, 1923. Serial No. 634,808.

T 0 all whom t may concern Be it known that I, CHARLEs E. VEISNER, acitizen of the United States, residing at Durmid, in the county ofCampbell and State of Virginia, have invented new and usefulImprovements in Cutting Mechanism for Cigarette Machines, of which thelfol'- lowing is a specification.

This invention relates to la cutting mech anism for cigarette machinesand it has for its object to provide an improved cutting mechanismadapted to be used in connection with any type of cigarette machine inwhich the cigarette is discharged in the form of a continuous rod orroll, means being provided whereby the roll isneatly cut perpendicularto its longitudinal axis into uniform lengths by a revoluble helicalcutter, the axis of which is inclined both horizontally and verticallywith respect to thecigarette roll to be cut. The roll is positively fedin unison with the operation of the revoluble cutter, and the carrierwhich feeds the roll is provided With ledger blades which cooperate withthe helical cutter' and may be adjusted towards or from the same to varythe tendescribed in connection with the accompanying drawings, in whichl Figure 1 is a side elevation of the rear portion of a cigarettemachine embodying the invention.

Fig. 2 is a plan view of the same.

Fig. 3 is a front elevation of the. same.

Fig. 4 is a detail view of the means for adjusting the cutter.

Fig. 5 is a detail view showing the relation of the helical cutter tothe cigarette roll.

Fig. 6 is a detail sectional view lof one of the ledger blades.

Fig. 7 is a detail view ofthe same.

In the drawings, 10 designates the rear part of a cigarette machinewhich may be of any desired vconstruction wherein the cigarette isdelivered in the form of a continuous roll. Journaled in the frame 10are two spa-ced parallel shafts 11 and 12 on which are mounted sprocketwheels. 13 and 14, respectively. The shaft 12 is provided with a spurgear 15 by means of which it is positively driven from a gear 16connected with the cigarette making machinery. A sprocket chain 17 iscarried by the sprocket wheels 13 and 14, and a suitable means may beprovided for tightening the chain by adjusting the bearing 18 for theshaft 11.'

The chain 17 is provided with a series of blocks 19, each of which has asemi-cylindrical groove 20, formed in its outer face, which grooves formthroughout the upper lap of the chain a substantially continuous groovewhich receives the continuous cigarette roll 21, as it is delivered fromthe machine. The upper lap of the chain 17 passesv over the uppersurface of a support 22 which maintains the blocks 19 and grooves 2O inhorizontall alinement, and alguide plate 23 extends over the chain to.insure the proper feeding of the cigarette roll to thecutter to behereinafter described.

. Certain of the blocks 19,.preferably each alternate one, is provided.with a ledger blade 24 extending transversely across its front face and`supported` by a4 spindle 25 slidably mounted in a recess 26 in theblock.

The inner end of the spindle 25 is pro-l vided with a threaded bore 27withA which arotatable threaded pin 28 cooperates to ad- Vance orretract the ledger blade.

Cooperating `with the successive ledger blades 24 is a heli-cal cutter29 secured to a shaft 30 which is journaledin the arms of a yoke 31 andprovided at one end with a drive piniony 32. The yoke is fulcrumed atl33 and 34 in brackets supported by the frame 10, and is provided at itsrear endv with an adjusting screw vby means `of which the cutter- 29 maybeadjusted upwardly or downwardly into proper relationA to the cigaretteroll. The pinion 32 is driven by a gear 36 secured to a stub shaft 37,which, in turn, is driven through the worm gear 38 by a countershaft 39connected by bevel gearing 40 withthe shaft 12.- The ratio between theseveral parts of the mechanism` for driving the cutter shaft 30 is suchthat one complete revolution of the cutl cigarette roll 21 and graduallycuts intothe same during substantially two complete revolutions of thecutter, at which time 4the cigarette is completely severed at right anfgles to its longitudinal axis. The lateral inclination of the peripheryof the cutting plate 29, due to its pitch, is corrected by inclining theaxis of the cutter laterally with respect to the cigarette roll, as willbe understood from an inspection of Fig. 5. ln order to permit thisinclination of the cutter shaft and at the same time drive the latterproperly from the stub shaft 37', the teeth of the driving pinion 3:2may bel slightly skewed.

ln order that the cigarette machine may be adapted 'for cigarettes ofdifferent lengths, the chain 1i and sprocket wheels 13 and 14 may bereplaced by a sprocket gear having the ledger blades spaced at differentdistances, and the spiral cutter may be replaced by a cutter ofdifferent pitch corresponding to the spaces between the ledger bladeswith which it cooperates. Each cutter shaft will be provided withgearing having the proper' ratio for it to operate in unison with theconveyer with which it is used. Provision is made for the easy removalof the cutter shaft by removably securing the bearing ll for the yoke bymeans of set screws 42 or the like.

The helical knife may be made right or left handed, according to thedirection in which it is rotated by the particular machine with which itis to be used. rllhe movable ledger blades which are carried by thechain 17 are individually adjustable so as to secure their propercooperation with the helical blade 29, and the edge of the latter ishollow ground to a razor edge, as shown in F ig. 6. Preferably, everyalternate block 19 is provided with a ledger blade and each cigarette issupported by a pair of blocks until it is delivered from the machine.

lVhile l have shown and described specifically the structural featuresof what is at present 'the preferred form of my invention, it will beunderstood that various modifications may be made therein so long assuch modifications embody the salient features of the invention, asdefined by the claims.

vWhat is claimed is l. ln a cutting mechanism for cigarette machines,the combination of an endless carrier comprising a series of groovedlinks for receiving a continuous cigarette roll, certain of said linkshaving ledger blades, a revoluble helical knife cooperating with saidledger blades and having its axis inclined horizontally and verticallywith respect to the travel of the conveyer, the vertical inclinationbeing such that after the knife first engages the roll substantially tworotations of the knife are required to complete the cut, and thehorizontal inclination being such that the plane of the knife at itsactive point is perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the cigarette.

2. In a cutting mechanism for cigarette machines, the combination of anyendless :micras carrier comprising a series of grooved links forreceiving a continuous cigarette, certain of said links having ledgerblades extending transversely across their respective front faces, arevoluble helical knife cooperating with said ledger blades and havingits axis inclined horizontally and vertically with respect to the travelof the conveyer, said knife and carrier being so geared together thatthe carrier advances the distance between two consecutive ledger bladeswhile the knife performs one revolution.

3. ln a cutting mechanism for cigarette machines, the combination of anendless chain, sprocket wheels on which the chain is carried, blockssecured to the links of the chain and having grooves for receiving acontinuous cigarette roll, certain of said links having ledger bladesextending transversely across their respective faces,a revoluble helicalknife cooperating with said ledger blades, the successive convolutionsof the knife being spaced the same distance apart as the distancebetween two consecutive ledger' blades, a common drive shaft for drivingthe sprocket gear and the knife in timed relation, and means foradjusting the knife toward and away from the chain.

t. In a cutting mechanism for cigarette machines, a positively drivenendless belt having a. succession of substantially equally spacedtransverse ledger blades, a revoluble helical cutter cooperating withsaid ledger 'blades and driven in timed relation with the endless belt,and means for individually adjusting the positions of the ledger bladesforwardly or backwardly to adjust the tension between them and thehelical cutter.

5. .ln a cutting mechanism for cigarette machines, a positively drivenendless belt having a substantially continuous groove for supporting acontinuous cigarette roll and having a succession of substantiallyequally spaced transverse ledger blades extending across the bottom ofsaid groove, a revoluble helical cutter cooperating with said ledgerblade and driven in timed relation with the endless belt, said cutterhaving substantially two complete convolutions which engage and cut thecigarette during its travel, and means for individually adjusting thepositions of the ledger blades forwardly or backwardly.

6. ln a cutting mechanism for cigarette machines, a positively drivenendless belt having a succession of substantially equally spacedtransverse ledger blades, a revoluble helical cutter cooperatingtherewith and driven in timed relation with the endless belt, means forindividually adjusting the positions of the ledger blades forwardly orbackwardly, and means for adjusting the cutter toward and away from thebelt.

7. ln a cutting mechanism for cigarette machines, an endless conveyercomposed of links formed on their upper lap with a subtravel of theconveyer, and means for individually adjusting said ledger blades or-Wardly or baclrvvardly to vary the tension between the same and thehelical knife.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own, I have hereto aixedmy signature,

CHARLES EMMETT WEIS-NER.

